Information input device, on-screen arrangement method thereof, and computer-executable program

ABSTRACT

Provided are an information input device, an on-screen arrangement method thereof, and a computer-executable program capable of preventing deterioration of operability even when an input disable region is set on a touch panel. An information input device capable of inputting information by an indicator touching a touch panel formed on a display screen includes an input disable region setting controller that sets an input disable region on a part of the touch panel and a display controller that rearranges an object being displayed on the display screen to avoid the set input disable region.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a national patent application and claims priority toJapanese Patent Application No. 2010-153313 entitled “INFORMATION INPUTDEVICE, ON-SCREEN ARRANGEMENT METHOD THEREOF, AND COMPUTER-EXECUTABLEPROGRAM” filed on Jul. 5, 2010 for Mamoru Okada et al. which isincorporated herein by reference.

FIELD

The subject matter disclosed herein relates to an information inputdevice, an on-screen arrangement method thereof, and computer-executableprogram.

BACKGROUND Description of the Related Art

Many modern electronic devices are capable of receiving input by a touchpanel mounted on a display device. A touch panels may accept data inputby the touch on the touch panel of a finger, a pen, or the like.Examples of information processing devices that incorporate touch panelsinclude laptop personal computers (“PC”), mobile terminals, personaldigital assistants (“PDA”), automated teller machines (“ATM”), and carnavigation devices.

Because many modern electronic devices are small and designed to behand-held, a hand or the like holding the device may cause erroneous orunwanted input. One solution that exists to prevent such erroneousoperation is to set an input disable region around the frame of thetouch panel where an operator is likely to touch.

Present solutions for preventing erroneous input, however, lead todegradation in operability. In presently available solutions, when theinput disable region is set, in order to interact with a window or anicon in the input disable region, the input disable region setting mustfirst be cleared. Additionally, if a part of the window is outside theinput disable region, it is necessary to first move the window so thatthe area to be operated is also located outside the input disableregion.

BRIEF SUMMARY

Based on the foregoing discussion, the inventors have recognized a needfor an information input device, an on-screen arrangement methodthereof, and a computer-executable program capable of preventingdeterioration of operability even when an input disable region is set ona touch panel.

The embodiments of the present invention have been developed in responseto the present state of the art, and in particular, in response to theproblems and needs in the art that have not yet been fully solved bycurrently available solutions. Accordingly, the embodiments have beendeveloped to provide an information input device, on-screen arrangementmethod thereof, and a computer-executable program for setting an inputdisable region on a touch panel that overcome many or all of theabove-discussed shortcomings in the art.

One aspect includes an information input device capable of inputtinginformation by an indicator touching a touch panel formed on a displayscreen, including: an input disable region setting controller forsetting an input disable region on a part of the touch panel; and adisplay controller for rearranging an object being displayed on thedisplay screen so as to avoid the set input disable region.

In one embodiment, the object to be rearranged is at least one of awindow, an icon, a taskbar, and a button. In a further embodiment, thedisplay controller executes at least one of moving and resizing theobject when rearranging the object.

In another embodiment, the touch panel has a detection regioncorresponding to an effective display region of the display screen andan extension region surrounding the periphery of the detection region.When a touch of the extension region is detected, the display controllersets the detection region present around the touched position as theinput disable region.

In an additional embodiment, when the input disable region setting iscleared, the display controller restores the arrangement of the objecton the display screen.

Another aspect includes an on-screen arrangement method in aninformation input device capable of inputting information by anindicator touching a touch panel formed on a display screen, the methodincluding the steps of: setting an input disable region on a part of thetouch panel; and rearranging an object being displayed on the displayscreen so as to avoid the set input disable region.

Another aspect includes a computer-executable program for causing acomputer to execute an on-screen arrangement method in an informationinput device capable of inputting information by an indicator touching atouch panel formed on a display screen, the method including the stepsof: setting an input disable region on a part of the touch panel; andrearranging an object being displayed on the display screen so as toavoid the set input disable region.

References throughout this specification to features, advantages, orsimilar language do not imply that all of the features and advantagesmay be realized in any single embodiment. Rather, language referring tothe features and advantages is understood to mean that a specificfeature, advantage, or characteristic is included in at least oneembodiment. Thus, discussion of the features and advantages, and similarlanguage, throughout this specification may, but do not necessarily,refer to the same embodiment.

Furthermore, the described features, advantages, and characteristics ofthe embodiments may be combined in any suitable manner. One skilled inthe relevant art will recognize that the embodiments may be practicedwithout one or more of the specific features or advantages of aparticular embodiment. In other instances, additional features andadvantages may be recognized in certain embodiments that may not bepresent in all embodiments.

These features and advantages of the embodiments will become more fullyapparent from the following description and appended claims, or may belearned by the practice of the embodiments as set forth hereinafter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A more particular description of the embodiments briefly described abovewill be rendered by reference to specific embodiments that areillustrated in the appended drawings. Understanding that these drawingsdepict only some embodiments and are not therefore to be considered tobe limiting of scope, the embodiments will be described and explainedwith additional specificity and detail through the use of theaccompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram of an information input device accordingto an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of rearranging objects when aninput disable region is set.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing various modes of rearranging an object.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing various modes of rearranging an object.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing various modes of rearranging objects.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an outline of the procedure of rearrangingan object when an input disable region is set.

FIG. 7 is a schematic perspective view of a slate PC to which aninformation input device according to the embodiment is applied.

FIG. 8 is a schematic cross-sectional view taken along the line B-B inFIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram showing a hardware configuration of theslate PC shown in FIG. 7.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing an outline of the procedure in which theslate PC shown in FIG. 9 rearranges an object when an input disableregion is set.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

As will be appreciated by one skilled in the art, aspects of theembodiments may be embodied as a system, method or program product.Accordingly, embodiments may take the form of an entirely hardwareembodiment, an entirely software embodiment (including firmware,resident software, micro-code, etc.) or an embodiment combining softwareand hardware aspects that may all generally be referred to herein as a“circuit,” “module” or “system.” Furthermore, embodiments may take theform of a program product embodied in one or more storage devicesstoring machine readable code. The storage devices may be tangible,non-transitory, and/or non-transmission.

Any combination of one or more machine readable medium may be utilized.The machine readable storage medium may be a machine readable signalmedium or a storage device. The machine readable medium may be a storagedevice storing the machine readable code. The storage device may be, forexample, but not limited to, an electronic, magnetic, optical,electromagnetic, infrared, holographic, micromechanical, orsemiconductor system, apparatus, or device, or any suitable combinationof the foregoing.

More specific examples (a non-exhaustive list) of the storage devicewould include the following: an electrical connection having one or morewires, a portable computer diskette, a hard disk, a random access memory(RAM), a read-only memory (ROM), an erasable programmable read-onlymemory (EPROM or Flash memory), a portable compact disc read-only memory(CD-ROM), an optical storage device, a magnetic storage device, or anysuitable combination of the foregoing. In the context of this document,a computer readable storage medium may be any tangible medium that cancontain, or store a program for use by or in connection with aninstruction execution system, apparatus, or device.

A machine readable signal medium may include a propagated data signalwith machine readable code embodied therein, for example, in baseband oras part of a carrier wave. Such a propagated signal may take any of avariety of forms, including, but not limited to, electro-magnetic,optical, or any suitable combination thereof, A machine readable signalmedium may be any storage device that is not a computer readable storagemedium and that can communicate, propagate, or transport a program foruse by or in connection with an instruction execution system, apparatus,or device. Machine readable code embodied on a storage device may betransmitted using any appropriate medium, including but not limited towireless, wireline, optical fiber cable, Radio Frequency (RF), etc., orany suitable combination of the foregoing.

Machine readable code for carrying out operations for embodiments may bewritten in any combination of one or more programming languages,including an object oriented programming language such as Java,Smalltalk, C++ or the like and conventional procedural programminglanguages, such as the “C” programming language or similar programminglanguages. The machine readable code may execute entirely on the user'scomputer, partly on the user's computer, as a stand-alone softwarepackage, partly on the user's computer and partly on a remote computeror entirely on the remote computer or server. In the latter scenario,the remote computer may be connected to the user's computer through anytype of network, including a local area network (LAN) or a wide areanetwork (WAN), or the connection may be made to an external computer(for example, through the Internet using an Internet Service Provider).

Reference throughout this specification to “one embodiment,” “anembodiment,” or similar language means that a particular feature,structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodimentis included in at least one embodiment. Thus, appearances of the phrases“in one embodiment,” “in an embodiment,” and similar language throughoutthis specification may, but do not necessarily, all refer to the sameembodiment, but mean “one or more but not all embodiments” unlessexpressly specified otherwise. The terms “including,” “comprising,”“having,” and variations thereof mean “including but not limited to,”unless expressly specified otherwise. An enumerated listing of itemsdoes not imply that any or all of the items are mutually exclusive,unless expressly specified otherwise. The terms “a,” “an,” and “the”also refer to “one or more” unless expressly specified otherwise.

Furthermore, the described features, structures, or characteristics ofthe embodiments may be combined in any suitable manner. In the followingdescription, numerous specific details are provided, such as examples ofprogramming, software modules, user selections, network transactions,database queries, database structures, hardware modules, hardwarecircuits, hardware chips, etc., to provide a thorough understanding ofembodiments. One skilled in the relevant art will recognize, however,that embodiments may be practiced without one or more of the specificdetails, or with other methods, components, materials, and so forth. Inother instances, well-known structures, materials, or operations are notshown or described in detail to avoid obscuring aspects of anembodiment.

Aspects of the embodiments are described below with reference toschematic flowchart diagrams and/or schematic block diagrams of methods,apparatuses, systems, and program products according to embodiments. Itwill be understood that each block of the schematic flowchart diagramsand/or schematic block diagrams, and combinations of blocks in theschematic flowchart diagrams and/or schematic block diagrams, can beimplemented by machine readable code. These machine readable code may beprovided to a processor of a general purpose computer, special purposecomputer, or other programmable data processing apparatus to produce amachine, such that the instructions, which execute via the processor ofthe computer or other programmable data processing apparatus, createmeans for implementing the functions/acts specified in the schematicflowchart diagrams and/or schematic block diagrams block or blocks.

The machine readable code may also be stored in a storage device thatcan direct a computer, other programmable data processing apparatus, orother devices to function in a particular manner, such that theinstructions stored in the storage device produce an article ofmanufacture including instructions which implement the function/actspecified in the schematic flowchart diagrams and/or schematic blockdiagrams block or blocks.

The machine readable code may also be loaded onto a computer, otherprogrammable data processing apparatus, or other devices to cause aseries of operational steps to be performed on the computer, otherprogrammable apparatus or other devices to produce a computerimplemented process such that the program code which execute on thecomputer or other programmable apparatus provide processes forimplementing the functions/acts specified in the flowchart and/or blockdiagram block or blocks.

The schematic flowchart diagrams and/or schematic block diagrams in theFigures illustrate the architecture, functionality, and operation ofpossible implementations of apparatuses, systems, methods and programproducts according to various embodiments. In this regard, each block inthe schematic flowchart diagrams and/or schematic block diagrams mayrepresent a module, segment, or portion of code, which comprises one ormore executable instructions of the program code for implementing thespecified logical function(s).

It should also be noted that, in some alternative implementations, thefunctions noted in the block may occur out of the order noted in theFigures. For example, two blocks shown in succession may, in fact, beexecuted substantially concurrently, or the blocks may sometimes beexecuted in the reverse order, depending upon the functionalityinvolved. Other steps and methods may be conceived that are equivalentin function, logic, or effect to one or more blocks, or portionsthereof, of the illustrated Figures.

Although various arrow types and line types may be employed in theflowchart and/or block diagrams, they are understood not to limit thescope of the corresponding embodiments. Indeed, some arrows or otherconnectors may be used to indicate only the logical flow of the depictedembodiment. For instance, an arrow may indicate a waiting or monitoringperiod of unspecified duration between enumerated steps of the depictedembodiment. It will also be noted that each block of the block diagramsand/or flowchart diagrams, and combinations of blocks in the blockdiagrams and/or flowchart diagrams, can be implemented by specialpurpose hardware-based systems that perform the specified functions oracts, or combinations of special purpose hardware and machine readablecode.

FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram of one embodiment of an information inputdevice. An information input device 1 includes a touch panel 2, adisplay unit 3, a coordinate detection unit 4, an input disable regionsetting/clearing unit 5, and a drive control unit 6. The informationinput device 1 can be formed through a hardware or software module or acombination thereof.

The display unit 3 is a flat panel-type display device such as, forexample, a liquid crystal display (“LCD”), an organic electroluminescent(“OEL”) display. The display unit 3 displays various types ofinformation, such as characters or images, in accordance with control ofthe drive control unit 6.

The touch panel 2 is a resistive or capacitive touch panel and ismounted on the display unit 3 so as to enable an operator to touch itusing an indicator, such as a finger or a pen, to select an objectdisplayed on the display unit 3, such as a window, an icon, a button, ora taskbar, and perform an input operation.

The coordinate detection unit 4 detects a coordinate position touched bythe finger on the touch panel 2 and outputs the coordinate position tothe drive control unit 6.

The input disable region setting/clearing unit 5 sets an input disableregion IA on a part of the touch panel 2 in response to a predeterminedcondition being satisfied in order to prevent erroneous input,operation, or the like. For example, the input disable regionsetting/clearing unit 5 may set the input disable region IA when agraphical user interface (“GUI”) or hardware button (not shown) ispressed, and may clear the setting of the input disable region IA whenthe button is pressed again. Touch panel 2 may include a detectionregion corresponding to an effective display region of the display unit3, and an extension region that surrounds the periphery of the detectionregion so as to detect an unintended contact. The input disable regionsetting/clearing unit 5 may set a detection region present around thedetected coordinates as the input disable region IA in response to aninput of the coordinates of the extension region being detected. Theinput disable region setting/clearing unit 5 may clear the setting ofthe input disable region IA in response to the cessation of input of thecoordinates of the extension region.

The drive control unit 6 is configured to control the display of thedisplay unit 3 so as to display characters, images, objects, and thelike and perform various processes based on the coordinate positioninput from the coordinate detection unit 4. The drive control unit 6disables an input of the coordinates of the input disable region IA setby the input disable region setting/clearing unit 5. When the inputdisable region IA is set, the drive control unit 6 determines whether anobject being displayed on the display screen overlaps with the set inputdisable region IA and rearranges the object so as to avoid the inputdisable region IA.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of rearranging objects when aninput disable region is set. The icons 7A to 7C are rearranged so as toavoid the input disable region IA in response to the input disableregion IA being set, the input disable region IA covering the areaoccupied by icons 7A to 7C, and the information input device in a statewhere icons 7A to 7C are displayed. In this way, even when the inputdisable region IA is set, the operator can operate the icons 7A to 7C.When the set input disable region IA is cleared by the input disableregion setting/clearing unit 5, the drive control unit 6 may restore thearrangement of the objects on the display unit 3.

The following modes can be considered as a method of rearranging(moving, resizing, and the like) the object so as to avoid the inputdisable region IA.

(1) Rearrangement Targets

The targets to be rearranged may be all objects on the screen, part ofthe objects on the screen, only active objects, or only the front-mostwindow. The arrangement targets may be determined by the type ofobjects. The objects to be rearranged may be at least one or all of awindow, an icon, a taskbar, and a button.

(2) Mode of Arranging so as to Avoid Input Disable Region IA

When an object partially or entirely overlaps with the input disableregion IA, the object can be moved so that they do not overlapcompletely. When an object overlaps with the input disable region IA,the object may be moved by an amount such that the object can beoperated. When an object partially overlaps with the input disableregion IA and the object can be operated, the object need not be moved.

(3) Mode of Rearranging an Object

The object can be rearranged so that the present display state ismaintained as much as possible in the following modes: (I) The object isfirst moved and then resized. (II) The object is first resized and thenmoved. (III) The object is moved but is not resized. (IV) The object isresized but is not moved.

The object may be rearranged within an input enable region regardless ofthe present display state. For example, windows may be displayed in anoverlapping manner, arranged in the vertical direction, arranged in thehorizontal direction, and icons may be displayed ordered by names anddates.

(4) Mode of Rearranging a Window

The window may always avoid the input disable region IA in the verticaldirection or the horizontal direction, or may avoid the input disableregion IA so as to be moved and resized as little as possible in thevertical or horizontal direction.

(5) Mode of Rearranging Multiple Objects

Rearranging objects to avoid the input disable region IA (“avoiding”)may be done while a plurality of objects all have the same orientation,while all have vertical orientation, while all have horizontalorientation, or while there are both vertical and horizontalorientations. Furthermore, a plurality of objects may choose the minimumamount of movement and resizing (e.g., the movement amount may bedetermined based on the maximum movement amount, an average movementamount, or a total movement amount). In addition, the avoiding may bedone by objects in the same direction with differing orientations, or byindividual objects in different directions and differing orientations.

FIGS. 3 to 5 are diagrams showing various modes of rearranging anobject.

In FIG. 3, when the input disable region IA is set above a folder OB1 ina state where the folder OB1 is displayed (FIG. 3(A)), the folder OB1may be moved to a position where it does not overlap with the inputdisable region IA (FIG. 3(B)). Alternatively, the folder OB1 may bemoved to a position where the folder OB1 partially overlaps with theinput disable region IA but the folder OB1 can be operated (FIG. 3(C)).Finally, the folder OB1 may be resized and moved to a position where itdoes not overlap with the input disable region IA (FIG. 3(D)).

In FIG. 4, when the input disable region IA is set over approximatelythe entire toolbar of a window OB2 (FIG. 4(A)), the window OB2 may bemoved so that the toolbar can be operated. When the input disable regionIA is set over a part of the toolbar of the window OB2, and the toolbarcan be operated even when it is not moved (FIG. 4(C)), the window OB2need not be moved.

In FIG. 5, when the input disable region IA is set over part of aplurality of icons OB 3 in a state where the plurality of icons OB3 isdisplayed (FIG. 5(A)), all icons OB3 may be moved in the verticaldirection to avoid the input disable region IA (FIG. 5(B)), may be movedin the horizontal direction to avoid the input disable region IA (FIG.5(C)), may be moved in the upward and downward vertical directions toavoid the input disable region IA (FIG. 5(D)), or may be moved bothhorizontally and vertically to avoid the input disable region IA (FIG.5(E)).

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an outline of one procedure by which theinformation input device 1 may rearrange objects when an input disableregion is set. The flowchart shown in FIG. 6 is repeatedly executed at apredetermined cycle. Drive control unit 6 determines whether or not theinput disable region IA is set on a part of the touch panel 2 (step S1).When the input disable region IA is not set on a part of the touch panel2 (step S1: “No”), the flow ends. When the input disable region IA isset on a part of the touch panel 2 (step S1: “Yes”), the drive controlunit 6 determines whether an object being displayed on the displayscreen overlaps with the set input disable region IA (step S2). When theobject being displayed on the display screen does not overlap with theset input disable region IA (step S2: “No”), the flow ends. When theobject being displayed on the display screen overlaps with the set inputdisable region IA (step S2: “Yes”), the drive control unit 6 rearrangesthe object so as to avoid the input disable region IA (step S3).

The drive control unit 6 determines whether the set input disable regionIA is cleared or not (step S4). When the set input disable region IA isnot cleared (step S4: “No”), the flow ends. When the set input disableregion IA is cleared (step S4: “Yes”), the drive control unit 6 restoresthe arrangement of the object on the display screen (step S5).

As described above, the input disable region setting/clearing unit 5sets the input disable region IA on a part of the touch panel 2, and thedrive control unit 6 rearranges the object being displayed on thedisplay screen so as to avoid the set input disable region IA. Theresult is that even when an input disable region is set on the touchpanel, it is possible to rearrange the object so that the object can beoperated.

The drive control unit 6 executes at least one of moving and resizing anobject when rearranging the object. This makes the object easy to seeafter the object is rearranged. Additionally, because the object is atleast one of a window, an icon, a taskbar, and a button, the operator isable to operate various types of objects.

The touch panel 2 has a detection region corresponding to an effectivedisplay region of the display screen and an extension region surroundingthe periphery of the detection region. When a touch of the extensionregion is detected, the drive control unit 6 sets the detection regionpresent around the touched position as the input disable region IA. Whenthe set input disable region IA is cleared by the input disable regionsetting/clearing unit 5, the drive control unit 6 restores thearrangement of the object on the display screen. This enables theoperator to perform operations on the screen arrangement before theinput disable region IA is set.

FIG. 7 is a schematic perspective view of a slate PC with an embodimentof the information input device. FIG. 8 is a schematic cross-sectionalview taken along the line B-B in FIG. 7.

As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, a slate PC 10 includes an approximatelyrectangular housing 11 containing a circuit board 12, an LCD 13 as adisplay unit, and a touch panel 2. The touch panel 2 is disposedapproximately on the same plane as a frame 11 a of the housing 11. Thetouch panel 2 has a structure in which a transparent conductor and aprotective film are stacked on a glass substrate.

The touch panel 2 includes a detection region larger than the effectivedisplay region of the LCD 13, consisting of a detection region DA1corresponding to the effective display region and an extension regionDA2 surrounding the periphery of the detection region DA1. The detectionregion DA1 is a region for performing an operation input. The extensionregion DA2 is a region for detecting an unintended contact, such as afinger touch, by a user. The extension region DA2 is preferably printedin a dark color so as to indicate to the user that the extension regionis not the operation screen. The user can operate the slate PC 1 in amanner similar to operation with a keyboard or a mouse by operating thedetection region DA1 of the touch panel 2 with a finger.

When the finger of the user touches the extension region DA2 of thetouch panel 2, and a coordinate position in the detection region DA1near the touched coordinate position detected in the extension regionDA2 is touched, the periphery of the touched detection region DA1 is setas the input disable region IA. In response to the activation of theinput disable region IA, it is determined whether an object OB beingdisplayed on the LCD 13 overlaps with the set input disable region IA.If the object OB is determined to overlap with the set input disableregion IA, the object OB is rearranged so as to avoid the input disableregion IA.

FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram showing a hardware configuration of theslate PC 10 shown in FIG. 7. As shown in FIG. 9, the slate PC 10includes a central processing unit (“CPU”) 101, a ROM 102, a memory 103,a hard disk (“HDD”) 104, the LCD 13, a graphics adapter 105, acoordinate input device 20, a disk drive 106, and a power circuit 108.The respective parts are directly or indirectly connected to each otherthrough a bus.

The CPU 101 controls the overall operation of the slate PC 1 with anoperating system (“OS”) 111 stored in the HDD 104 connected through thebus and performs a function of executing processing based on variousprograms stored in the HDD 104. The ROM 102 stores a BIOS (BasisInput/Output System) 102 a, data, and the like.

The memory 103 is formed of a cache memory or a RAM and is a writablememory which is used as a read area of programs executed by the CPU 101or a work area in which processing data of the programs is written.

The HDD (hard disk) 104 has a function of storing the OS 111 (forexample, WINDOWS XP, WINDOWS VISTA, and WINDOWS 7) for controlling theoverall operation of the slate PC 1, various drivers (for example, adisplay driver and a touch panel driver) 112 for controlling hardware ofperipheral devices, and application programs 113 for executing thedisplay processes of the display screen of the LCD 13 in accordance withinstructions input from the coordinate input device 20 and otherprocesses.

The graphics adapter 105 converts display information into video signalsin accordance with control of the CPU 101 and output the converted videosignals to the LCD 13. The LCD 13 has a function of display varioustypes of information in accordance with control of the CPU 101.

The disk drive 106 reads or writes data from/to a disc 107, such as aCD-ROM or a digital versatile disc (“DVD”), which is loaded therein.

The power circuit 108 includes an AC adapter, an intelligent battery, acharger for charging the intelligent battery, a DC/DC converter, and thelike and supplies power to respective devices in accordance with controlof the CPU 101.

The coordinate input device 20 is a user interface for enabling a userto perform an input operation and is configured to allow a user toselect an object such as various menus, icons, buttons, windows,taskbars, or keyboards displayed on the screen of the LCD 13 and performan input operation or perform an on-screen operation such as scrollingor swiping.

The coordinate input device 20 includes the touch panel 2 and a drivecircuit 21. The drive circuit 21 detects a coordinate position (X,Y)touched on the touch panel 2 and outputs the coordinate position to theCPU 101. The drive circuit 21 functions as the coordinate detection unit4 shown in FIG. 1. The function of the drive circuit 21 may be realizedby a computer executing a program.

The CPU 101 functions as the input disable region setting/clearing unit5 and the drive control unit 6 shown in FIG. 1 by executing the programsstored in the HDD 104. The CPU 101 performs various processes based onan on-screen object (an icon, a taskbar, a button, or the like)corresponding to the coordinate position input from the coordinate inputdevice 20. When a first coordinate position is input in the extensionregion DA2 of the touch panel 2, and a second coordinate position isinput in the detection region DA1 at a position near the coordinateposition in the detected extension region DA2, the CPU 101 sets thedetection region DA1 present near the second coordinate position as theset input disable region IA. In addition, the CPU 101 determines whetheran object OB being displayed on the LCD 13 overlaps with the set inputdisable region IA and rearranges the object OB so as to avoid the inputdisable region IA when the object OB overlaps with the input disableregion IA. When the input of the detected coordinates of the detectionregion DA1 and the extension region DA2 disappears after the inputdisable region IA is set, the CPU 101 determines that the input disableregion IA is no longer being contacted, and clears the setting of theinput disable region IA. When the input disable region IA is cleared,the CPU 101 restores the arrangement of the object OB.

In addition, when the input disable region IA is set, the type ofavoiding object and the avoidance mode can be set by a user on a settingscreen (not shown). The CPU 101 moves a target object to avoid the inputdisable region IA in accordance with the settings (the avoiding objectand the avoidance mode) on the setting screen. The previously describedmethod can be used for determining the avoiding object and the avoidancemode.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing an outline of the procedure in which theslate PC 1 shown in FIG. 9 rearranges an object when an input disableregion is set. In FIG. 10, the CPU 101 determines whether the inputdisable region IA is set or not (step S11). When the input disableregion IA is not set (step S11: “No”), the flow ends. When the inputdisable region IA is set (step S11: “Yes”), the CPU 101 reads thecoordinate value of the input disable region IA (step S12), reads thesetting on the avoidance mode (step S13), and detects the position,type, and state of a target object on the LCD 13 (step S14). The CPU 101determines whether the target object overlaps with the input disableregion IA or not (step S15). When the target object does not overlapwith the input disable region IA (step S15: “No”), the flow ends. Whenthe target object overlaps with the input disable region IA (step S15:“Yes”), the CPU 101 determines a rearrangement (moving and resizing)method based on the input disable region IA, the type of the object, andthe setting on the avoid mode (step S16). Subsequently, the CPU 101stores the original (present) desktop state (step S17). This is torearrange the target object in the original state when the input disableregion IA is cleared. The CPU 101 rearranges (moves or resizes) thetarget object in accordance with the determined rearrangement method.

In the embodiments described above, although the slate PC has beendescribed, the invention is not limited to a slate PC. The informationinput device, the on-screen arrangement method thereof, and thecomputer-executable program according to the invention can be used invarious devices having a touch panel. Examples of devices may include alaptop PC, a mobile terminal, a PDA, a navigation device, and the like.

Embodiments may be practiced in other specific forms. The describedembodiments are to be considered in all respects only as illustrativeand not restrictive. The scope of the invention is, therefore, indicatedby the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description. Allchanges which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of theclaims are to be embraced within their scope.

1. An information input device comprising: a touch panel formed on adisplay screen that is capable of receiving information; an inputdisable region setting controller that sets an input disable region on apart of the touch panel; and a display controller that rearranges anobject being displayed on the display screen to avoid the set inputdisable region.
 2. The information input device according to claim 1,wherein the display controller executes at least one of moving andresizing the object when rearranging the object.
 3. The informationinput device according to claim 1, wherein the object is one of awindow, an icon, a taskbar, and a button.
 4. The information inputdevice according to claim 1, wherein the display controller rearrangesone of all the objects on the screen, part of the objects on the screen,and only the front-most window on the screen.
 5. The information inputdevice according to claim 1, wherein the input disable region is set byone of a graphical user interface and a hardware button, and wherein theinput disable region setting is cleared by one of a graphical userinterface and a hardware button.
 6. The information input deviceaccording claim 1, wherein the touch panel has a detection regioncorresponding to an effective display region of the display screen andan extension region surrounding the periphery of the detection region,and wherein responsive to touch of the extension region, the displaycontroller sets the detection region present around the touched positionas the input disable region.
 7. The information input device accordingto claim 1, wherein responsive to the set input disable region beingcleared by the input disable region setting controller the displaycontroller restores the arrangement of the object on the display screen.8. An on-screen arrangement method comprising: setting an input disableregion on a portion of a touch panel formed on a display screen that iscapable of receiving information; and rearranging an object beingdisplayed on the display screen to avoid the set input disable region.9. The on-screen arrangement method according to claim 8, whereinrearranging the object comprises at least one of moving and resizing theobject.
 10. The on-screen arrangement method according to claim 8,wherein the object is one of a window, an icon, a taskbar, and a button.11. The on-screen arrangement method according to claim 8, whereinrearranging the object comprises rearranging one of all of the objectson the screen, part of the objects on the screen, and only thefront-most window on the screen.
 12. The on-screen arrangement methodaccording to claim 8, wherein the step of setting the input disableregion is initiated by one of a graphical user interface and a hardwarebutton.
 13. The on-screen arrangement method according to claim 8,wherein the touch panel has a detection region corresponding to aneffective display region of the display screen and an extension regionsurrounding the periphery of the detection region, and whereinresponsive to touch of the extension region being detected, thedetection region present around the touched position is set as the inputdisable region.
 14. The on-screen arrangement method according to claim8, wherein the method further comprises: clearing the input disableregion setting; and restoring the arrangement of the object beingdisplayed on the display screen.
 15. A computer program productcomprising a storage device storing machine readable code executed by aprocessor to perform the operations of: setting an input disable regionon a portion of a touch panel formed on a display screen that is capableof receiving information; and rearranging an object being displayed onthe display screen to avoid the set input disable region.
 16. Thecomputer program product of claim 15, wherein rearranging the objectcomprises at least one of moving and resizing the object.
 17. Thecomputer program product of claim 15, wherein the object is one of awindow, an icon, a taskbar, and a button.
 18. The computer programproduct of claim 15, wherein rearranging the object comprisesrearranging at least one of all of the objects on the screen, part ofthe objects on the screen, and only the front-most window on the screen.19. The computer program product of claim 15, wherein the touch panelhas a detection region corresponding to an effective display region ofthe display screen and an extension region surrounding the periphery ofthe detection region, and wherein responsive to touch of the extensionregion being detected, the detection region present around the touchedposition is set as the input disable region.
 20. The computer programproduct of claim 15, wherein the operations further comprise: clearingthe input disable region setting; and restoring the arrangement of theobject being displayed on the display screen.